Ex-Jeffco treasurer faces retrial
By Sue Lindsay, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Published February 29, 2008 at 12:30 a.m.
Paschall, 54, was accused of soliciting a kickback.
Former Jefferson County treasurer Mark Paschall wasn't smiling Thursday as he learned that prosecutors plan to put him on trial again for a charge that a hung jury didn't reach a verdict in his trial this month.
Paschall was all smiles then, after a jury acquitted him of attempted theft for allegedly soliciting a kickback from a bonus he approved for a top aide.
But the jury hung on a second charge of compensation for past official behavior, and prosecutors told the judge Thursday that they want to set the case for retrial. That will take place July 29.
Paschall looked grim-faced as he heard the news just before the 8 a.m. hearing.
"Oh, man," he said, heaving a sigh as he left the courtroom without comment after the brief hearing.
Defense attorney David Lane said he wasn't surprised.
"This is the county of Jefferson, Colorado," Lane said. "This is a white, rich, suburban county without a lot of serious crime. But it has the most overblown criminal justice system in the state. They take the weakest cases to trial to justify their existence."
Lane said his client was disappointed.
"He wants this case dismissed," Lane said, adding that his client would not accept any plea offers.
Paschall, 54, was accused of soliciting a $9,000 kickback from an $18,000 bonus he approved for his top aide, Kathy Redmond, just before leaving office in 2006.
Redmond, a political appointee, said he made the offer Dec. 27, 2006, telling her, "I'm going to offer you a ridiculous amount of money." But she said that Paschall said he expected to receive half.
Paschall took the stand to deny the allegations, and Lane blamed the charges on an alleged vendetta by county commissioner Jim Congrove.
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February 29, 2008
12:26 p.m.
Suggest removal
Lowtaxequalsfreedom writes:
This guy is most likely a criminal and the Rocky prints a portrait quality photo. When the Rocky prints a photo of DBruce it is the worst possible one they can create. Are you people insane or just plain old devil worshipers?